Scaevola plant named ‘SCAX0226’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Scaevola  plant named ‘SCAX0226’, characterized by its compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and violet-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Scaevola aemula.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SCAX0226’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofScaevola, botanically known as Scaevola aemula, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘SCAX0226’.

The new Scaevola is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Scaevolacultivars with attractive flower color.

The new Scaevola originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October, 2001, of aproprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number01.1.1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number 01.1.2, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar SCAX0226 wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Scaevola by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia sinceOctober, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Scaevolaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar SCAX0226 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SCAX0226’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SCAX0226’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofScaevola:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Scaevola differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola have smaller leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola have violet-colored flowers        whereas plants of the female parent selection have        purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Scaevola differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola are more compact than and not as        trialing as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola have larger leaves than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the Scaevolaaemula cultivar Newon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,584. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales,Australia, plants of the new Scaevola differed from plants of thecultivar Newon in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Newon.    -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola had smaller leaves than plants of        the cultivar Newon.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Scaevola and the cultivar Newon        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Newon had        purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Scaevola, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Scaevola.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘SCAX0226’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘SCAX0226’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. in one-gallon containers in anoutdoor nursery during the summer under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to 38° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 24° C. Plants were about sevenweeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Scaevola aemula cultivar SCAX0226.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola            aemula identified as code number 01.1.1, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola            aemula identified as code number 01.1.2, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.        -   Time to develop roots.—About two to three weeks.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, mounded and outwardly            spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about seven            lateral branches each with about three to four secondary            lateral branches.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 46 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 29 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to spatulate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Irregular serrations.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; coarse.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 137B. Fully developed foliage, upper            surface: 137A; venation, 137B. Fully developed foliage,            lower surface: 137C; venation, 147B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and shape.—Zygomorphic, semi-circular,            fan-shaped flowers with five petals fused at the base to            form a tubular flower throat. Flower throat open along the            upper surface exposing reproductive organs. Flowers not            fragrant.        -   Flower arrangement and quantity.—Solitary sessile flowers            arise from leaf axils. Flowers face mostly outwardly. Freely            flowering habit, typically about ten to twelve open flowers            and about 18 flower buds per lateral branch.        -   Flowering time.—Plants flower continuously from May through            September in Southern California. Flowers typically last            about five to seven days on the plant. Flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: 92B; central stripes, 145B.        -   Flowers.—Length, fan: About 1.2 cm. Width, fan: About            2.5 cm. Flower throat diameter: About 5 mm. Flower tube            length: About 2.2 cm. Flower tube diameter, base: About 2.5            mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five, fused at base. Shape: Elliptic.            Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Length, above tube: About            1.3 cm. Width, above tube: About 4 mm. Texture, upper            surface: Lobes, smooth; flower throat, whiskered. Texture,            lower surface: Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 90C. When opening, lower surface: 91A; center            stripe, 148B. Fully opened, upper surface: 90B; towards the            throat, 145D; throat, 145A. Lobe apices becoming closer to            91B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: 91A;            center stripes, 91C to 91D; at the base of the tube, 145A.            Color becoming closer to 91B to 91C with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate, clasping. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: 145C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color:            145B. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: 160B. Pollen: Scarce. Pollen color:            160B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:            79C. Stigma shape: Triangular. Stigma color: 145D. Ovary            color: 145A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Scaevola have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Scaevola have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Scaevola.

1. A new and distinct Scaevola plant named ‘SCAX0226’ as illustrated anddescribed.